Conveying apparatus



Oct. 9, 1923,

A. SMALLWOOD CONVEYING APPARATUS Filed March 8. 1920 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Oct. 9 1923. A. ,SMALILWOOD I Filed March a, 1,920 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented (int. 9, i923.

ALFRED SIVLALLWOOD,

OF LONDON, ENGLAND..

convnyrnearrnnaros.

Application med March 8, 1920. Serial No. 384,268.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ALFRED Sarxnmvoon, a subject of the Kingdom of Great Britain, residing at 42 Hal-grave Park, Highgate, London, N., in the county of Middlesex, England, have invented Conveying Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention comprises a device or apparatus for conveying or transporting goods particularly as a device for charging furnaces.

According to the present invention, I provide a device in the nature of a barrow or trolley having two wheels, a supporting part or fork projecting forwardly therefrom, and a handle or operating part extending rearwardly therefrom. The forwardly extending part or fork is adapted to be located underneath the goods, such as a receptacle containing malleable castings, and by depressing the rear or operating part the goods can be elevated, conveyed, and advanced into the working chamber of the furnace. In order to enable the goods to be readily elevated and balanced during the conveying and charging apparatus, I combine with the apparatus an adjustable weight adapted to be displaced rearwardly to balance the goods. This weight is adapted to be actuated from a distance, i. e. from the rear of the operating mechanism.

In order that this invention may be clearly understood and readily carried into practice, reference may be had to the appended explanatory sheet of drawings, upon which Figure 1 is an elevation of a charging device incorporating an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a plan of the charging device shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 illustrates a detail of the mechanism incorporated in the charging device shown in Figures 1 and 2.

In a convenient embodiment of the present invention, the frame comprises a forwardly extending fork a which is rigid with a rearwardly extending horizontal frame in the nature of parallel rails b which at their rear extremity are extended in unitary formation to a suitable handle 0. Upon these rails a weight cl fitted with rollers or wheels 6 is adapted to run forwardly and rearwardly. In the vicinity of the charger wheels f which are located at or near the juncture of the fork or carrier portion with the rails, a chain pulley g is provided; another chain pulley h is provided around which and the pulley g a chain extends and is coupled to the running weight (Z, so that by rotation of the rear pulley the weight can be advanced towards or displaced away from the running wheels f of the charger. (Jo-axially with the chain wheel it and fixed to rotate therewith is a chain pulley 2'. From this a chain extends to a chain pulley Zr: located in the region of the handle c. Z is a spur wheel fixed to rotate co-axially with the pulley is, the said spur wheel Z be ing in mesh with a spur wheel m in the countershaft a (Figure 3). The said countershaft n is mounted in a supporting bracket 0 and is adapted to be rotated, as for instance by a handle p. v

A clutch, preferably of the friction type, is provided in combination with the chain gear appertaining to the weight, being advantageously provided in combination with the countershaft n and being adapted to provide for the retention of the weight in any position in which it may be located. In the construction shown, 9 is a sleeve appropriately anchored from rotation to the bracket 0, the said sleeve 9 having a taper extension which is split so that it may be contracted to grip the shaft a. This contraction may be efi'ectecl by a nut r screwed upon the sleeve 9 and also having a female taper formation adapted to co-operate with the taper formation upon the sleeve. By rotating the nut r in an appropriate direc-' tion, as for instance by a suitable lever arm, the extension of the sleeve 9 is contracted to grip the shaft 1%, and thereby lock the chain gear and balance weight d from movement.

The apparatus may be moved with or without the load by the handle 0, but additional gear may be provided for propelling the apparatus. With this object in view, the axle of the wheels f may be encircled by a worm wheel 8 adapted to be clutched to said axle; the said worm wheel a is in mesh with a worm 25 provided upon a shaft a coupled by an universal joint o with another shaft w having a detachable handle 00, which latter may be operated from the rear of the apparatus to rotate the axle in relation to which the wheels 7" are fixed. For clutching the worm wheel 8 to the axle of the wheels 7, a dog clutch 2 is provided adapted to be operated by a clutch operating fork and introduced into the furnace. The weight isithen displaced towards'the load, when the latter can readily be deposited, and the charging apparatus withdrawn.

WVhatI, claim as my invention and desire to secure'byLetters Patent is:

lIA load conveying apparatus comprising coaxialrunning wheels for supporting the apparatus on the ground, an operating structure supported fbyrsaid wheels the oope'rating structure including a forwardly pr0- jectin'g portion terminating in aload carry-- ingffork, and a r'earwardly projecting portion terminating ina handle adapted for use bylthe operator-'of the apparatus, a counterweight movable on the'rearward projection ofithel operating structure and means adjacent the handle for positively rotating the supporting wheels to advance the apparatus over the ground, i '2. A load con'veying apparatus, including coaxial supporting wheels for supporting the apparatus on the ground, an operating structure carried-' by said'wheels, the operating structure comprising aforlr projecting forward of the wheels and a portion projecting rearward therefrom and connected at its rear end with a handle, an adjustable weight on the operating structure, means adj aoent the handle for imparting movement to said counterweight on the operating structure, means operable from the rear end of the operating structure for imparting rotary movement to said wheels, and a clutch interposed between the last mentioned means and the Wheels. i

3. In a load conveying apparatus, the combination of coaxial supporting wheels for supporting the apparatus on the ground an operating structure carried by said wheels, the operating structure comprising a fork projecting forward of the wheels and a portion projecting rearward therefrom and connected 'at'its rear end with a handle, an adjustable weight on the operating structure, means adjacent the handle for imparting movement to said counterweight on the opcrating structure, means operable from the rear end'of the operating structure for imparting rotary movement to said wheels, a clutch interposed betw'eenithe last mentioned means and the wheels and means adjacentthe handle for actuating the clutch.

In witness whereof- I h'ave hereunto set my hand.

' SMALLWO 

